Schofield Barracks celebrates 25th Infantry Division’s 85 years
The 25th Infantry Division held a dawn run at Schofield Barracks to mark its 85th anniversary. The division historian noted it was organized there in 1941 from the old Hawaiian Division and entered combat weeks later after the Pearl Harbor attack. The event highlighted the unit’s history, community ties, and readiness in the Pacific.
The 25th Infantry Division traces its birth to Oct. 1, 1941, when it was formed at Schofield Barracks from the Hawaiian Division. Weeks later, after Japan attacked Oahu—hitting Pearl Harbor, Schofield and Wheeler Army Airfield—the unit saw its first combat. Its jungle fighting on Guadalcanal produced the “Tropic Lightning” name.
Its record later spans Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. Today it serves as the Army’s Pacific division, training in the Philippines and near Taiwan as U.S.-China tensions persist. Thursday’s rainy run drew 61 visiting veterans and relatives.
The anniversary could strengthen ties between Schofield Barracks and surrounding Hawaii communities, giving veterans, soldiers and families a shared moment of recognition. It may also raise public awareness of the division’s long Pacific role and current deployments, shaping how residents view local military presence and defense priorities. For service members, such events may reinforce unit identity and morale, while observers of regional security may see the ceremony as a reminder of ongoing readiness concerns.